Andrew Cuomo said that in New York, “diversity is our strength, but it can also be a weakness,” the New York Times reports.

Said Cuomo: “You have to work very, very hard to make sure you’re always keeping people united, and there’s always flare-ups among different races, religions, creeds for one reason or another.”

“The Democrats running for governor in Virginia and New Jersey have brought in scores of high-profile lawmakers and potential 2028 presidential contenders to campaign for them in the run-up to Tuesday’s elections,” Axios reports.

“But they pointedly haven’t invited progressive leaders Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who are two of the most popular figures among Democrats and attract big crowds across the country.”

“President Trump’s political operation is digging into its massive war chest to bankroll a multimillion-dollar voter turnout effort in the final days of the New Jersey and Virginia governor races,” Axios reports.

“Each state is getting a $1 million-plus microtargeting effort aimed at Trump supporters and other Republicans who usually skip off-year races.”

“Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly said that it would be difficult for him to win with Curtis Sliwa in the race. Sliwa, the Republican candidate, said in an interview that he was not going anywhere and was not interested in meeting with Cuomo or talking to him,” the New York Times reports.

Said Sliwa: “I would impale myself before I’d meet with him. If I saw him on the corner, I’d walk the other way. If he called me, I’d hang up.”

Bloomberg: “November 4 effectively marks the unofficial kick-off to the 2026 election season. That’s when three states and the biggest city in the US will go to the polls for the first major ballots since Trump was elected.”

“Together, they’ll form an early referendum on the president’s second-term, and a test of what campaign messages are moving voters in Trump’s second term when he isn’t on the ballot. Midterm elections historically tend to favor the party out of power, and polls entering the final weekend showed Democrats ahead in the night’s marquee elections.”

“Former President Barack Obama is expected to join Representative Mikie Sherrill Saturday night in Newark, the latest in a string of visits by Democratic Party leaders as New Jersey’s hotly contested governor’s race enters its closing stretch,” the New York Times reports.

“Three Democratic governors — Wes Moore of Maryland, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan — also swept into the state over the past several weeks, as did Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota…”

“The Republican nominee, Jack Ciattarelli, has had fewer reinforcements from his party show up, although several big names have jumped in to support his campaign in the final sprint before Election Day on Tuesday.”

Jonathan Martin: “The most revealing element of next week’s election is that President Donald Trump is all but ensuring defeat for Republicans, and his party is doing next to nothing about it.”

“The mere fact of his election last year handed Democrats a powerful turnout lever in blue-leaning New Jersey and Virginia, but Trump has further undermined GOP hopes in the two states with his conduct and has seemingly abandoned California Republicans.”

“Michael Bloomberg donated a combined $5 million to a couple of anti-Zohran Mamdani super PACs earlier this week, making the billionaire ex-mayor the general election cycle’s single largest political contributor,” the New York Daily News reports.

A new Fox News poll finds Zohran Mamdani with a 16-point lead over Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor, 47% to 31%, with Curtis Sliwa trailing at 15%.

A new Marist Poll in New York City finds Zohran Mamdani leading the mayor’s race with 48%, followed by Andrew Cuomo at 32% and Curtis Sliwa at 16%.

Even if Sliwa were to drop out of the contest, Mamdani would lead 51% to 44%. 

President Trump might not be on the ballot in New Jersey, “but he is one of the biggest forces in the state’s surprisingly competitive gubernatorial election,” the Washington Post reports.

“Trump lost New Jersey last year by less than six percentage points — a far lower margin than in past elections, which saw Republicans lose the state by double digits every cycle in the last 20 years. That narrow loss prompted Republicans to dare to hope they might win the governorship this year.”

A new Roanoke College poll finds Abigail Spanberger (D) holds a 10-point lead over Winsome Earle-Sears (R) in the race for governor of Virginia, 51% to 41%.

A new Emerson College poll in New York City finds Zohran Mamdani leading the race for mayor with 50%, followed by Andrew Cuomo at 25% and Curtis Sliwa at 21%.